split transfer case

:'( Just got towed back from an expensive weekend at the beach. The transfer case on my 78 40 series is now in two pieces. Not sure what happened exactly, one minute it was driving along fine, then it just let go with a bang. Is this a common problem or was I just unlucky? I have stock running gear pushing 32 bf mudders by the way.

Where did the case crack? Did it really end up in two pieces? What a bummer, but man would that case ever make a cool table center piece! Swapping a new one in isnt that big of a job to do. Any oil left in the case?

Yeah it was pretty loud, and yeah its definitely split. Part of the housing is still bolted to the transmission and the other half is sitting on the top of the bash plate. I had actually topped the transfer up the day before it went, but I've since found out it was probably leaking from a hairline crack. Apparently it is pretty common, enough so that my local landcruiser wreckers told me I'd have a hard time finding a new housing. They want to sell me a complete late model 4 speed with split transfer case ($800AU exchange), which is supposedly a lot stronger. The only thing is it won't be reconditioned, just pulled from a running truck. I figure if I go that route I'd want to recondition the whole lot, but I'm not sure just how much work is involved. My question now, is it worth having a go myself or better to leave it to a mechanic?